Travel

Australia-China Council National Chinese Speaking (Hanyuqiao) Competition

The inaugural competition was held in 2005. The 2008 competition will be held at the Manning Clark Centre at the Australian National University in Canberra on 11 July.

Students interested in entering the next national competition should talk to their Chinese Teacher about the State Competitions. More information can be obtained from the relevant State/Territory President.

As part of its support for the competition, the Australia-China Council is providing a subsidy for travel and cash prizes for the winners:

There are two categories in the competition: Chinese first language and Chinese second language. Second language students must be born in a non-Chinese speaking country and their parents are not native speakers of any form of Chinese. They should not have more than four weeks’ experience of Chinese exchange or overseas study.

First language students may have one or both parents who speak a Chinese dialect as their first language or the student settled in Australia before the age of five. Students who arrived after the age of five are not eligible to enter the competition.

Teachers may submit a request for an exception to these criteria where the circumstances warrant it.

Full details of the competition and the selection process can be obtained below.

2008 Australia-China Council National Chinese Speaking (HanYuQiao) Competition

Incorporated with the CLTFA & the CCLTS, co-sponsored by HanBan and the Chinese Embassy

(A) TIMING & VENUE:

It is envisaged that the Australia-China Council (ACC) National Chinese Speaking (Hanyuqiao) Competition will be held each year at the time of the CLTFA conference in July. The right to host the competition will be rotated between the States. The Canberra Chinese Language Teachers’ Society (CCLTS) will host the fourth national competition in Canberra on Friday 11 July 2008 (commending at 2pm with registrations from 12.30pm) at the 14th CLTFA annual conference. It is also expected that students of Chinese, their teachers and parents, will be invited to attend the national finals. Media will also be invited to cover the event.

Representatives from the ACC, Hanban, State or Territory Ministry of Education and Chinese Embassy/Consulate General will be invited as honoured guests.

(B) COMPETITION CATEGORIES:

(1) Chinese Second Language: This category will be made up of students born in a non-Chinese speaking country and neither of whose parents are a native speaker of any form of Chinese. Students participating under this category should have had no more than TEN weeks in-country experience through Chinese exchange or overseas study.

(2) Chinese First Language: This category will be made up of students with one or both parents who speak a Chinese dialect as their native language, or alternatively, students who were born in a Chinese-speaking country/region (China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia & Singapore), but who settled in Australia before the age of 5 (inclusive). Students who arrived after that age will not be eligible to participate in the competition.

(C) ELIGIBLE LEVEL OR GRADE:

Students who are enrolled in either Year 10 OR Year 11 in their day schools.

(D) TOPICS & DURATION OF SPEECH:

The competition will be divided into two parts:

1) Prepared Speeches: Each candidate is to deliver a 2.5 minute speech on a self-chosen topic.

2) Impromptu Speeches: Each candidate will also be required to draw a topic (different to the prepared speech) from a hat and deliver a talk of up to one minute. Possible topics are: My Family; My School; My Study of Chinese; My Weekend Activities; My Hobbies and My Best Friend.

(E) JUDGING CRITERIA:

Both parts of the competition will have equal weighting. The judging criteria are:

 

Prepared Speech

Impromptu Speech

Content (depth, breadth, structure)

15%

15%

Pronunciation (accuracy, tones, emphasis)

15%

15%

Fluency (phrasing, pausing, intonation)

10%

10%

Presentation (gesture, expression, timing, use of notes)

10%

10%

 

Candidates may use one prompt card (A6 size) with notes in point form only.

(F) NUMBER OF ENTRIES

The number of candidates the various States will be able to select in each category to compete in the competition will be as follows:

* Please note that ACT is to provide one extra candidate in each category in 2008 as agreed by the CLTFA Council in November 2007.

All states and territories are to submit their candidates and names of chaperones to the CCLTS by 31 May 2008.

The names of candidates submitted by each State or Territory must be accompanied by a Declaration, signed by the President of the relevant State Chinese Teachers Association and stating that the candidate(s) were eligible to compete under the Rules and Regulations applying to the conduct of the Competition. A copy of the List of Candidates and the Declaration should be forwarded to the CLTFA as well as to the CCLTS.

(G) STATE COMPETITIONS & SUBSIDY

Each State is to run its own competition prior to 31 May 2008. All states need to inform the CLTFA its competition dates and venues in order to obtain a $400 subsidy from the CLTFA. Cheques will be issued to the states at the conclusion of the competition.

(H) SUBSIDY FOR THE CCLTS

The CLTFA will allocate $1,000 from the ACC funding to the CCLTS for the expenditure incurred in the organisation of the national competition.

(I) STATE CHAPERONES:

Each state is responsible for providing a chaperone for their unaccompanied candidates to ensure their health, safety and wellbeing at the national finals.

(J) TRAVELLING SUBSIDY:

The CLTFA has been granted funding from the ACC to subsidise the interstate candidates’ airfare, travel insurance and accommodation costs up to the following figures.

The maximum subsidies for 2008 are as follows:

All candidates are to fill in a financial statement listing their travel costs. The statement should be forwarded to the CLTFA prior to the national competition. Cheques will be issued to the candidates at the registration of the competition.

(K) JUDGING:

The judging panel will consist of three judges: two independent judges selected by the CCLTS & one interstate judge to be provided by the CLTFA Council.

(L) PRIZES:

All participants will receive a trophy and a certificate issued by the ACC and the CLTFA. Hanban and the Chinese Embassy will provide Chinese teaching/learning materials to place-getters or their schools.

Cash prizes will also be presented as follows:

(M) POST COMPETITION CULTURAL ACTIVITIES:

The conference organising committee will provide a post competition Chinese cultural program to the candidates. It will be held on Saturday 12 July from 9.30am to 2.00pm.